General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada is teaming with BAE Systems
Ground Systems Division, to offer vehicles to the Mine Resistant
Ambush Protected (MRAP) program.
GDLS Canada will provide the program management and logistic
support while South African based BAE Systems Land Systems OMC
will manufacture the vehicles in BAE Systems' facilities in
York, Pennsylvania. For the MRAP program the team is offering
the RG- 31 Mk5, the latest version of the highly successful
RG-31 vehicle family, offering significant increase in power
and payload while enhancing mine blast resistance and protection
against both improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats.
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada is providing vehicles for
both Category I and Category II requirements of the MRAP program
under this contract.

Force
Protection, Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems are forming
a joint venture to offer the Cougar
4x4 and 6x6 armored vehicles for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
(MRAP) vehicle program, a U.S. joint services program being
managed by the U.S. Marine Corps. The joint venture was formed
to offer Force Protection's Cougar 4x4 and 6x6 armored vehicles
as an MRAP solution. The joint venture called Force Dynamics
will include an experienced team in program management, systems
engineering, production and service support from both Force
Protection and General Dynamics. The companies are already
cooperating in the fabrication of the armored capsule for
the Cougar.

The
1st Marine Expeditionary Force requested 1,169 MRAP vehicles.
The program calls for a commercially available off-road and
highway capable armor and mine protected vehicle, configured
for personnel, cargo and litter transportation. The vehicle
should have a payload capacity of 5000 lbs, and will be able
to carry 6 – 10 troops. The vehicle will be configured
to carry existing gunner protected turrets or remotely controlled
weapon stations, enabling the gunner to load, operate and engage
targets from fully protected positions. To improve recovery
after mine damage, the vehicle will be built of modular components
that could break away from the vehicle in the case of a blast.
Its energy absorbing seats should be capable of withstanding
the accelerative effects of mine blasts.

The armor protection of the vehicle include mine protection
and ballistic protection of the full, roof protection from overhead
airburst and side protection against fragmentation and blast.
The transparent armor windows will have protection level equal
to or greater than that of the ballistic armor on the vehicle,
and will have built-in gun-ports. RPG protection could also
be an option.